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What’s the story?
Amidst rumours of retirement after her defeat in the WWE Women's Championship match last night, Natalya has taken to Twitter to dismiss the claims.
In case you didn’t know…
Natalya was unsuccessful in regaining the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Clash of Champions against Charlotte last night. She cut an incredibly emotional promo after the match that seemed to foreshadow a possible retirement with her walking out the ring sobbing uncontrollably.
The heart of the matter
The promo occurred after a lengthy match and cause confusion as Natalya stayed in her lane as a heel throughout, then burst into tears as she exited the ring. Her promo hinted at "going away" and "changing" and the crowd serenaded her exit with "Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey-hey-hey, goodbye."
Obviously meant in jest, but not fitting of someone who has been such a servant to the business if she really was retiring.
We also heard nothing from Natalya until she posted a cryptic tweet, a tribute to her uncle, Owen Hart.
However, when asked by a fan about the possibility of a retirement, Natalya was quick to dismiss the rumour.
What’s next?
Whatever happened, I guess we'll find out if Natalya's at SmackDown Live on Tuesday, but it was an odd promo to cut unless she was just emotional about leaving everything in the ring. There's a good chance she may take a break or revamp her image. We can only wait and see.
Author’s take
Natalya can be a divisive character, but it would be a real shame if she were to retire or take a long time away, as suggested here.
One suggestion is she may be joining The Riott Squad as there were implications of an allegiance there during the Lumberjack Match last night. The promo was a typical "heel turn" promo, but she's already a heel. The emotional ending was what threw me and the rest of the WWE Universe off guard.
Either way, it provides some really good watching and makes SmackDown a must-see for anyone interested in the women's division, as Natalya has played a huge role.
